The genus Ixia consists of a number of cormous plants native to South Africa from the Iridaceae family and Ixioideae subfamily. Some of them are known as the corn lily. Some distinctive traits include: sword-like leaves, and long wiry stems with star-shaped flowers. It usually prefers well-drained soil. They have a specific but not very intense fragrance of vegetables. That is why it is often visited by many insects such as bees.

Ixia namaquana, commonly known as Namaqua Kalossie and synonymously known as Ixia rapunculoides var. namaquana, is a widespread in montane South African endemic species found in the Northern Cape and Western Cape provinces from the Richtersveld to the northern Cederberg. Found growing amongst fynbos, plants occur in clay soils in northern Namaqualand, granite derived gravel in the Kamiesberg, and on sandstone further south. From mid-winter to early spring it produces striking white flowers that are tinged with purple.